AUREL 384 - Gods, Goddesses, and Gurus: An Introduction to Hinduism

★ 3 (fi 6) (either term, 3-0-0) Introduction to the broad range of religious phenomena commonly referred to as “Hinduism,” especially as expressed in contemporary India. The course explores the ways Hindus think about and visualize the divine. It examines Hindu sacred texts and popular religious literature, images and stories of the major Hindu gods and goddesses, how the divine is embodied in Hindu holy men and women, and the importance of sacred geography as the basis for religious pilgrimage. It also explores the ways this religious complex is being used by various political movements within India as a vehicle for shaping national identity.